Wimbledon Champion Noskova Stunned by McNally in Toronto R2

McNally's Comeback Ends Wimbledon Champion's Toronto Debut

Linda Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, was eliminated from the National Bank Open in Toronto in the second round on Wednesday, losing to American Caty McNally 7-6(5), 6-1. The sixth seed was bidding to make an impact at her first WTA 1000 event since lifting the Wimbledon trophy, but McNally's resilience told a different story.

McNally was on the brink of losing the opening set, falling behind 1-5 before launching a stunning comeback to force a tiebreak. She won it 7-5, then carried that momentum into a dominant second set in which Noskova found no answers to her opponent's aggressive ball-striking. The 88-minute match ended with the Czech ranked among the tournament's higher seeds heading home before the third round. For McNally, it ranked among the biggest wins of her career — defeating the reigning Grand Slam champion in commanding fashion.

The result denied fans a rematch between Noskova and Alexandra Eala, who had been on a potential collision course with the Wimbledon champion following her own second-round win. Eala, fresh from her historic WTA title triumph in Washington last weekend, defeated Alycia Parks 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to extend her winning streak to six consecutive matches. The Filipino star dropped the second set but recovered composure in the decider, breaking Parks in the fifth game to seal it in one hour and 51 minutes.

Eala's Streak Continues; McNally Looms in Round Three

Eala will now face McNally in the third round — their first career meeting — in a tie that had been widely anticipated given both players' run of form. Eala carries the confidence of a freshly minted title and a six-match win streak. McNally, who pushed Noskova off the court with consummate authority in the second set, has rediscovered the level that made her one of the most talked-about American prospects two years ago.

Elsewhere, the headline names in the draw continued to advance without too many scares. Elena Rybakina needed three sets to dispatch Daria Kasatkina (6-3, 5-7, 6-4), while Coco Gauff was efficient against qualifier Kayla Day, winning 6-2, 7-5. Mirra Andreeva was clinical, dismantling Karolina Plíšková 6-0, 6-2. Naomi Osaka continued her return to form with a straightforward 6-2, 6-4 win over Panna Udvardy.

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Toronto's Third Round: Upsets on the Horizon

The third round at Sobeys Stadium begins Thursday, with several intriguing match-ups taking shape in a draw that has already produced a number of surprises. Liudmila Samsonova's earlier dismissal of Barbora Krejčíková (6-1, 7-5) has further scrambled the lower half. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek advanced without difficulty in the second round and are now on course for a potential semifinal collision.

Noskova departs Toronto having played only one competitive match since Wimbledon — her opening two-set win in the first round — meaning the Czech will have limited time to find rhythm before the US Open hard-court swing concludes in late August.